Podcast 38: Do You Hate Being Told What to Do? Maybe You’re a Rebel.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

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Update: For our upcoming Very Special Episode, Holiday edition, we want to hear from you: What is your Try This at Home for staying happier, healthier, and more productive over the holidays? It can be a challenge. So let us know what works for you -- for dealing with family, for traveling, for managing temptations, anything. We can all learn from each other.

Today is the fourth in the series of four episodes that we’re devoting to theFour Tendencies. In last week’s episode, we talked about the Obliger Tendency; this week, it’s Rebel.

Strengths and Weaknesses of Rebels: How to identify and take advantage of the strengths, and counter-balance the weaknesses, of the Tendency.

Striking Pattern of Rebels: Whenever a Rebel is in a long-term relationship, whether romantically or at work, it's almost always with an Obliger.

Another striking pattern: While Rebels want choice and freedom, some Rebels are drawn to areas of high regulation, such as the military, the police, and the clergy.

Listener Questions: "What are some strategies to use if you have a Rebel child?" "How do Rebels manage their inclination to rebel against themselves?" Plus a Rebel weighs in about how she sticks to her good habits.

Gretchen’s Gold Star: I've started a new habit: on my Facebook Page, each Sunday evening, I post a photo of all the books I've read that week. I love to shine a spotlight on books, and I get a lot of satisfaction from thinking, "Look at what I've read."

Call for comments, questions, observations!

We’ve spent four weeks talking about my Four Tendencies framework for human nature. It has been fascinating. We've had so many terrific responses that we're planning a round-up episode. So if you have more questions or comments, send them in!

More Episodes For You

Find out if you’re an Upholder, Obliger, Questioner, or a Rebel.

The Four Tendencies explain why we act and why we don’t act. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so understanding your Tendency lets us make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress and burnout, and engage more effectively.